Strong Structures

Project Title: Strong Structures
Grade: AIG 4th & 5th
Name: Tina West

Project Idea: Students will research the construction of bridges and towers. They will work in groups or pairs to complete activities which will provide them with a physical understanding of basic terms (force, loads, dead load, live load, compression, tension, bending, shear, torsion, arch, buttress, dome, cantilever, truss). They will view video clips from PBS Building Big. Students will work in teams to research the different types of bridge and skyscraper construction and make judgments as to why different construction methods are used in different places. They will construct a bridge and a tower using materials provided.

Driving Question: How do we build large structures?

General Content:

Science

4.P.2.1 Compare the physical properties of samples of matter

5.P.1.1 Explain how factors such as gravity, friction, and change in mass affect the motion of objects.

5.P.3.2 Explain how heating and cooling affect some materials and how this relates to their purpose and practical applications.

Math

4.OA.3 Solve multistep word problems

4.MD.1 Know relative sizes of measurement units within one system of units.

4.MD.2 Use the four operations to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time, masses of objects,

5.NF.6 Solve real world problems involving multiplication of fractions and mixed numbers, e.g., by using visual fraction models or equations to represent the problem.

5.MD.2 Make a line plot to display a data set of measurements in fractions of a unit

Reading

#4 Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a topic or subject area.

#7 Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.

#9 Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.

Writing

#2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

#4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

#7 Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

Speaking

#4 Report on a topic or text or present an opinion, sequencing ideas logically and using appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details to support main ideas or themes; speak clearly at an understandable pace.

Major Student Products:

1. Research bridge and tower construction
2. In groups, design and construction a bridge/tower out of drinking straws that can hold as much weight as possible

Bridge Challenge:
Design and build the strongest bridge you can that spas a distance f 45 centimeters using any of these materials:

• Drinking straws
• Paper clips
• Newspaper
• Tape
• String or yarn

Tower Challenge :
Design and build the tallest tower you can that supports the load of a golf ball using any or these materials:

• Drinking straws
• Paper clips
• Newspaper
• Tape
• 4 toilet-paper tubes
• Salt or sand

1. Groups will their bridges determine how much weight they will hold
2. Groups will determine design errors and modify designs
3. Groups will present their bridge to an audience and explain why the style was chosen, how the bridge was constructed, and what modifications they made after testing
4. How a class competition to determine which bridge can hold the most weight
5. Groups will make additional modifications as necessary
6. Students will compete in a county competition